Razor blade dispenser



April 8, 1958 l. J. SILVERMAN 2,829,764

. RAZOR BLADE DISPENSER Filed Nov. 9, 1955 INVENTOR. I JEROME SlLVERMAN RAZOR BLADE DISPENSER Isadore Jerome Silverman, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application November 9, 1955, Serial No. 545,982

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) This invention relates generally to dispensers or magazines for razor blades and the like, and has particular reference to a novel sheet material insert for blade dispensers which effectively protects the blade edges against the corroding and eroding action of moisture and other injurious substances in the surrounding atmosphere.

Before the advent of razor blade dispensers of the types in widespread use today, almost every blade sold was individually wrapped in wax coated or oil treated paper which was in turn enclosed in a small envelope. These precautions were taken because it was, and still is, recognized that the factor sharpened blade edges, if left unprotected for any length of time, would lose much of their keenness due to the corrosive action of the moisture in the atmosphere. i

The individual blade wrapping, however, does not particularly lend itself to modern blade dispensers since the paper covers tend to interfere with the dispensing of the blades in the desired manner. The ,resultis that no protection whatsoever is given to the blades supplied in a dispenser, and after the dispenser has been initially removed from its package the blades therein dull noticeably in a relatively short time. This loss of keenness or sharpness, asnoted hereinabove, is the result of oxidation or rust which first causes the blade edge to tarnish or corrode and eventually eats away or erodes minute portions of the edge. The oxidation, which is caused by the union of oxygen in the moisture in the air and air itself with the ferrous metal in the blades, is the principal cause of the corroding and eroding, although industrial gases and other advantitiouslsubstances in the air also contribute to the harmful action.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention contemplates the provision of a blade edge protecting insert for blade dispensers or magazines which effectively excludes harmful atmospheric reactants from the blade edges and, at the same time, permits the blades to be freely ejected from the dispenser in the conventional manner. The insert thus provides protection for the blades without sacrificing any of the conveniences of a dispenser. The insert is formed of moisture resistant sheet material and is constructed in such a manner that it can be used in most types of presently available dispensers without requiring any material modification in the structure or normal mode of operation thereof. In addition, the insert can be manufactured by simple mass production methods at such a low cost that it need not increase the final cost of the dispenser and blades to the consumer.

Accordingly, with the foregoing and other considerations in View, it may be stated that the broad objective of this invention is to provide an effective blade edge protecting means which is practical for use in razor blade dispensers or magazines.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a blade edge protecting insert for razor blade dispensers which in no way interferes with the convenience or normal mode of operation of the dispenser.

Patented Apr. 8, 1958 ice A further important object of the invention is to provide an edge protecting insert for razor blade dispensers which effectively prevents corrosion and erosion of the blade edges and enables them to retain their original factory sharpened condition.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide an edge protecting insert for razor blade dispensers which is exceedingly simple in construction and is very inexpensive to produce.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide an edge protecting insert for razor blade dispensers which can be utilized in nearly all of the presently available types of blade dispensers.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an edge protecting insert for razor blade dispensers which is formed of a single piece of moisture resistant and substantially impervious paper or parchment, the latter being preferably treated with silicone or a derivative thereof.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an edge protecting insert for razor blade dispensers which effects a stropping action on the blade edges as the blades are ejected from the dispenser.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention for the purpose of disclosure.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a blade edge protecting insert embodying the invention, showing the side sections thereof in substantially extended position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the insert of Figure l as used in a dispenser;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the insert of Figure 2 showing the manner in which the razor blades are positioned therein;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the insert with a plurality of blades positioned therein;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a razor blade dispenser or magazine having a blade protecting insert therein;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through the cover member of the blade dispenser,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the base member of the blade dispenser; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a jig for use in assembling the insert and blades prior to the insertion thereof in the dispenser.

Having reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers designate the same part in each of the views, it generally indicates the blade protecting insert which, as best shown in Figure l, is preferably formed from a single sheet or strip of thin paper or parchment. The paper, parchment, or equivalent material used is preferably treated or coated with silicone, silicone treated papers and parchments being commercially available at the present time from a number of sources. A silicone treated paper is particularly desirable for the purposes of the invention since silicones are characterized by their temperature stability, inertness and excellent water resistent properties.

in producing the insert 10, the strip of treated paper is formed with a base or center section 11 and a pair of side sections or members 12 and 14, the center section being flat and substantially rectangular in shape as shown. Each of the side sections, however, is folded accordion fashion to form a plurality of relatively narrow pleats 15 which are arranged in superposed relation overlying a portion of the center section adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof. Since the pleats 15 are considerably narrower than half the width of the center section 11, the

side sections 12, 14 are separated by a fairly wide longitudinally extending central space or opening 17, the function of which will become apparent as the description proceeds. The opening 17, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, decreases in width from top to bottom due to the fact that the pleats 15 in each side section decrease uniformly in width from the bottom pleat to the top pleat,

this formation giving the side sections a tapered shape since the outer walls thereof are substantially perpendicular to the center section. V

The center section 11 of the insert is substantially equal in width to the width of a standard double edged razor blade, and is approximately one-half again as long as the blade since blades are usually arranged in an offset overlapping manner in common types of dispensers to facilitate ejection of but one blade at a time. Provision is accordingly made for such an arrangement in the edge protecting insert disclosed herein, although the length of the insert is, of course, not critical.

In assembling the blades in the insert 10, the side sections 12, 14 are partially extended as shown in Figure l, and a blade 18 is positioned on the center section 11 with one end adjacent one of the ends of the center 'section. The first pair of pleats 15 in each side section are then folded over the edges of the blade so that the latter are engaged by the center section 11 on one side and by the pleats 15a on the other side. The second blade is positioned on top of the pleats overlying the first blade with its end adjacent the opposite end of the center section so that the blades are offset from one another as best shown in Figure 4. The next pair of pleats in each side section are then folded over the second blade so that the edges thereof are positioned between pleats 15b and 150, Figure 1. This procedure is continued in the same manner for the remainder of the blades to be disposed in the dispenser, the edges of the third blade being positioned between pleats 15d and 15e, and so forth. In some dispensers the blades are marked with arrows as at 19 to indicate the direction in which the blades should be ejected, and in such case the blades will be alternately arranged adjacent the ends of the insert towards which the arrows point.

The assembly operation just described may be facilitated by means of a jig 20, Figure 8, having a pair of narrow upstanding lugs or ears 21. The base 22 of this jig is substantially the same size as the center section 11 of the insert, and the latter is formed with openings 24 so that it can be positioned over the base with the lugs 21 passing through the openings. The blades 18 may then be assembled in the insert by placing them alternately on the lugs, the latter being received in slots 25 in the blades and being so located that the blades fall 'into proper overlapping arrangement as shown in Figure 4.

The blade dispenser includes coacting base and cover members 27, 28 and the base' member is provided with guides 30 which serve to properly locate the blades in the dispenser and to guide them in a straight longitudinal path in alignment with the cover member dispensing slots 31 as they are being ejected. The spacing of the lugs 21 on the jig corresponds to that of the guides 30 so that after the blades and insert have been assembled on the jig, the assembled package can be transferred as a unit to the base member guides which will extend up through the openings 24 in the insert and slots 25 in the blades in the same manner as the jig lugs 21. The cover member 28 is then snapped into position on the base member and the assembly is complete. The cover member is formed with the usual finger receiving opening 32 which provides access to the blades for ejecting same, and this opening communicates with the central opening 17 in the insert so that each blade will in turn become accessible through the openings, the decreasing width of the insert opening conforming generally to the rounded shape of the finger pad. In order to prevent longitudinal movement of the insert as the blades are being ejected therefrom, the base member and/or cover member of the dispenser may be provided with pointed tabs 34 which engage the insert and maintain it in fixed position.

As shown in Figure 5, when the insert 10 and blades 18 are assembled in the dispenser the top pleat 15 of the insert is just visible through the finger opening 32 but is not wide enough to cover the arrows 19 or similar markings on the blades. The silicone treated paper or parchment from which the insert is formed, While having exaggerated thickness in the drawings for the purpose of illustration, is in actual practice very thin so that the insert does not necessitate any enlargement of the dispenser in either the 10 or 20 blade s'ize, or in any other conventional size. Since the treated paper is held in close engagement with the blade edges by the dispenser itself, atmospheric moisture and like injurious substances are efifectively excluded therefrom. In addition, it has been found that as the blades are withdrawn from the insert the silicone treated pleats thereof exert a stropping action on the cutting edgesso that the blade is in its sharpest possible condition when placed in the razor.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention disclosed herein provides a novel and highly practical arrangement for blade dispensers, the arrangement providing effective yet inexpensive protection for the blade edges without in anyway interfering with the convenient operation of the dispenser. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The

embodiment disclosed is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a razor blade dispenser, a blade edge protecting insert formed of a single sheet of moisture repellent material, said insert comprising a substantiallyrectangular base member and a pair of spaced, upstanding side members respectively connected to the longitudinal edges of said base member, each of said side members being folded accordion fashion to form a plurality of narrow pleats overlying a portion of said base member the pleats in each side member decreasing uniformly in width from the bottom pleat to the top pleat, said pleats forming a plurality of oppositely disposed pairs of edge receiving pockets for the razor blades.

2. In a razor blade dispenser formed with dispensing guide members for the razor blades, a blade edge protecting insert formed of a single strip of thin silicone treated paper, said insert comprising a substantially flat rectangular center section having guide openings therein adapted to receive the dispensing guide members of the blade dispenser, and a pair of side sections folded accordion fashion into a plurality of superposed narrow pleats overlying a portion of said center section adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof, said folded side sections extending upwardly from said center section and being spaced apart in substantially parallel relation to one another to define a finger receiving opening therebetween, said pleats in each side section decreasing uniformly in widthfrom the bottom pleatto the top pleat, opposite pleats in said side sections forming therebetween a plurality of pairs of oppositely disposed edge receiving pockets for the blades in the dispenser.

3. In combination, a razor blade dispenser having coacting base and cover members, said base member having a pair of upstanding guide members to guide the blades in a straight longitudinal path as they are ejected from the dispenser, said cover member having a substantially centrally disposed finger receiving opening therein, a blade edge protecting insert positioned in said dispenser, said insert being formed of a single strip of thin silicone treated paper and comprising a substantially rectangular center section and a pair of side'sections folded accordion fashion into a plurality of superposed pleats overlying said center section adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof, said center section being adapted to overlie said base member and having a pair of guide openings therein to receive said guide members, said folded side sections being spaced apart in substantially parallel relation to one another to define a finger receiving opening therebetween in communication with the finger receiving opening in said cover member, opposite pleats in said side sections forming therebetween a plurality of pairs of oppositely disposed edge receiving pockets for the blades in the dispenser, said pleats in each side section decreasing uniformly in Width from the bottom pleat to the top pleat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Belz Dec. 9, Gingras Dec. 29, Holihan Oct. 19, Cook Aug. 2, Gray July 7, Auerbach I an. 12, Shnitzler et a1. May 3, 

